First hunt test on Friday

gundogguy said:
Interesting thread folks, testing and hunting, usually dogs that are part trained are underwelmed during a wild bird hunt, and overwelmed during a hunt test.
May have something to do with standards. Hunting places the focus on the "bag" and the birds of the day. Testing places the focus on a prescribed set of standards at ever increasing levels of precision for the dogs behavior to meet or exceed. JH being a bare minimum set of requirements, SH being slightly expecting a more precise dog behavior and MH being the "ultimate gun dog".
The key is to prepare the dog, so it is underwelmed in the job you are asking it to do today.

Concerning game birds Vs pigeons. I have always thought putting a young dog into game birds for training or for their experience, was like putting a 10 year old boy in the batters box against major league pitching, it would not be helpful for young ball player to have to face a 100mph fast ball.
Pigeons are a great way for the young prospect to build confidence on the many behaviors being asked for,quartering, steadiness, marking and delivery.

And there is a game bird shortage in the production areas of the country I'm here in Michigan. Not sure about the long term effects but many producers have sold off their breeders. Bird prices in the future are going to bubble upward.
Best of fortunes
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I believe you, and the thought on pigeons. Thats exactly why I do just as you said. But, at a hunt test is not the time to be introducing a dog to birds. This should all be done before you go to compete. Hunt tests should be on game birds of some sort, not pigeons, unless absolutly a necessity. This is an AKC title weather it be JH or MH. So there should be some standard set a little above puppy hood pigeon introduction. Puppy stakes in field trials support no title for the dog. Just my thoughts. And yes if there is such a crunch on birds as we are seeing, well, The show could still go on I guess with pigeons. I know of field trials this spring that are not going on for lack of birds. :(
 
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They only ran th JH's on pigeons, the SH and MH were on pheasants.
 
Not as far as I know. I drove by a guys pens the other day and he still had at least 1000 or more pheasants and who knows how many quail and chukar.
 
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